All Obituaries

Ruth Joyce Smith, age 94, lifetime resident of Olmsted Falls, passed away Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The daughter of the late Harold Hall and Joyce Hall, she was the loving wife of James C. Smith for almost 45 years. Ruth was a graduate of Olmsted Falls High School Class of 1945, and actively supported the school as an alumnus throughout her life. In 1948, she became “Nurse Ruth,” and served her community at Southwest General and Stoney Hill Nursing Home until retiring from Southwest...

WILLIAM  W.  MILLER, JR., age 94, veteran in the Army/Air Force, the last remaining member and jazz pianist of the Berea dixie-land band The Front Street Five. Bill loved Music, Art, Geography, History, Archeology, Shakespeare, Poetry, the Outer Banks and Children. Bill was a proud graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College where he was an Alpha Sigma Phi and met his life-long best friends Al Swanson and the rest of the Berea Gang! Bill earned his Master’s at Kent State...

Donna O’Brien (nee Donna Marie Dawley), left this realm after 88 years, on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022. Donna was a deeply loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, who was treasured by all who were blessed to know her. She was a retired teacher from the Berea City School District who was very active in Kiwanis and supporting youth in her community. Donna leaves behind her beloved husband of 61 years, George O’Brien, and their children and spouses, Kerry O’Brien...

Neal H. Hesche, age 92 was born February 15, 1930 and passed away peacefully on May 8, 2022 with his son and daughter in-law by his side.  He is the beloved husband of the late Lynnette and dear father of Douglas M. Hesche (Kelly).  He was a coach, an educator, a mentor, a leader, a friend, a father and gave thanklessly to all.  A small private graveside service will be held on Thursday May 12 at the Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers...

George Croston was born August 16, 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents Gwendyl L Croston and Elizabeth C (Kennedy) Croston. George grew up in Cleveland, Oh during the school year but spent his summers and any other chance he got, in Southern Ohio on his grandparents farm helping them. George enlisted in the United States Air Force right after high school. Upon completion of service, he returned back to Cleveland where he’d start a family and a...

Albert M. Samol of Grafton, Ohio, known to his friends as Sam or Al, was a caring husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend. He left this world too soon on May 4, 2022, at the age of 80.  Those who knew Albert would tell you that he was a very generous man. You never left his presence without taking something that you didn’t know that you needed but that he instinctively knew that you did. Albert showed us his love every day with the...

Carol Morehouse Betts, a longtime resident of Berea, died on May 3, 2022. She was 85. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Thomas Betts, and her brother Thomas Morehouse (Shirley).  She is survived by her three brothers, Terry (Theresa), James (Shirleen), and Steven (Brenda); three children, Kellyn, Kevin (Elizabeth Mwangi) and Terrence; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A dedicated elementary teacher, Carol served for 24 years in the Berea Public Schools....

EVELYN  J.  RIDGEWAY, age 87, (nee Outward), beloved wife of the late William C., Sr., loving mother of Billy Ridgeway, Jr., (Nancy), Mike Ridgeway, Marsha Sweeney (Jim-deceased), Debbie Ridgeway, John Ridgeway (Karen), grandmother  of Megan Rogers (Brian), Casey Karkoff  (Jared), Sally Parsi (Michael), Lauren Ridgeway, Diana Rose Ridgeway, Steven Ridgeway, and Liam Ridgeway, great grandmother of Owen Rogers, Lucie Rogers, and Evelyn Rogers, Andrew Hayes, Alana Hayes,...

SHAWN T. KELLY age 82, born March 7, 1940 in Lakewood, Ohio passed away on April 28, 2022. He was a US Navy veteran, resident of Medina and former resident of Berea. He is the beloved brother of Katherine Kelly and loving uncle of Lisa Bean, Michael (Charlotte) Bean, Jen (Jason) Thomas. Dear great uncle of Kelly (Dwight) Brodzenski, Niick (Krista) Fairbee, Alyssa and Jacob Bean and Jared and Connor Thomas. He was preceded in death by his sister Sara Kelly and his parents Richard and Minerva...

JOHN  W.  SIDNEY, age 88, Chief Radio Electronic Officer with the US Merchant Marines. Korean War veteran with the US Air Force. Beloved husband of Marguerite Donovan, loving father of Journn Sidney, dear grandfather of Theo Sidney, Zoe and Phobe Magik, brother of Kathleen Sidney. Friends may call at BAKER-OSINSKI-KENSINGER FUNERAL HOME, 206 FRONT STREET, BEREA, OHIO, 44017, SATURDAY, APRIL 23 FROM 1:00-3:00 PM. Burial private at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman,...